On December 23, Shanghai High School International Division (SHSID) hosted its first-ever Energy Day. On this day, the familiar teaching buildings were transformed into an "energy hub" integrating creativity, athleticism, and therapeutic vibes, where over 1,000 high school students and faculty participated in an immersive experience. In the afternoon, the event warmly linked up with Alumni Reunion Day, welcoming more than 250 alumni back to campus. Amid joyous gatherings and interactions, they completed this cross-generational energy relay.

Powering the "Energy Hub" All Day Long

Under the meticulous planning of the Student Center and ASB, the first Energy Day featured over 30 exciting activities spanning art creation, sports experiences, musical performances, tech interactions, and fun games, running throughout the day. The event also received strong support from all Chinese and foreign teachers as well as student volunteers. Students explored freely, immersed themselves in the activities to recharge their energy, found comfort and solace, and embarked on an exhilarating "recharging" journey.

Art & Creativity Zone: Let Inspiration Grow Unfettered

The Art & Creativity Zone was undoubtedly the visual highlight of the event. The Studio shooting experience captured fleeting moments of youth; the Light and shadow painting used long-exposure technology to trace vivid light trails, seamlessly blending technology with art. The "Art Planet" canvas was filled with brilliant colors and whimsical patterns by the students. Colored chalk served as creative tools, allowing everyone to freely express their inspiration on the ground and craft unique works of art. Fun activities such as plaster statue painting, oil painting coloring, and hand beading enabled students to fully immerse themselves in creation, truly feeling the healing power of art flowing through their fingertips.

Sports Experience Zone: Ignite Energy with Movement

The Sports Experience Zone was brimming with speed and laughter. Whether taking on individual challenges or engaging in team collaboration, students released boundless vitality as they broke a sweat. They hopped on power generation bicycles with light strip to "generate electricity for love" through exercise, lighting up the words "I Love SHSID"; they could also redeem snacks with the electricity generated by their movements, embedding the concept of environmental protection into this fun-filled experience. Bubble Soccer and 3V3 soccer matches combined competitiveness with amusement; Dancing blankets, VR experience, Foosball, Tabletop curling, and Bowling took turns to entertain the crowd. Classic games like Blindfolded hide and seek, Red light, Green light, and long rope skipping also gained a brand-new charm with special rules in place. Waves of laughter echoed continuously in our campus.

Leisure & Relaxation Zone: Slowing Down is Also a Form of Energy

The Leisure & Relaxation Zone provided a cozy retreat for faculty and students, serving as an energy buffer zone. The ASMR video playback was furnished with soft bean bags, where soothing stress-relief videos played gently, allowing students to relax their minds and bodies during breaks from the bustling activities. The KTV sings at will was filled with non-stop joy, with a random song selection mode letting everyone sing their hearts out. Performances at the Music corner were equally spectacular, giving every music-loving student a chance to step onto the stage, showcase their talents, and convey youthful energy through their songs. During the yoga stretching session, professional yoga instructors from Lululemon led everyone in stretching exercises, easing post-exercise fatigue with each breath. Meanwhile, the Christmas-themed booths carefully prepared by the Student Union instantly amplified the festive atmosphere. Students mixed warm drinks at the DIY booth and turned colorful pipe cleaners into mini Christmas trees at the craft station.

Boundless Creativity: Energy Day’s Exciting Extensions

The many featured activities of this Energy Day were truly eye-catching. The Time travel classroom took students on a journey through time, letting them experience the campus scenery in its early days in an immersive way. The AI interactive game zone was extremely popular, where students gained unique fun through intelligent interactions. During the SPDC dances session, dynamic moves instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the whole audience. The Fit Check/Fashion show was staged brilliantly, fully demonstrating students’ fashion sense and youthful vitality. In the "There are four rules in life" photo booth, everyone struck funny or warm poses in front of the camera, freezing happy moments forever as keepsakes. In front of the Gachapon machine, encouraging notes were drawn one after another, and warmth and positive energy spread quietly across the campus. The Film camera relay race was full of fun — cameras were passed between teachers and students in turn, and every film captured the wonderful moments of the event. The drama Goodbye Mr. Loser, brought by the Youshan Society, made a surprise encore; the actors’ exquisite acting skills won enthusiastic applause from all faculty and students present. In the creative Dominoes activity, students gave full play to their imagination to build various formations. The moment the dominoes toppled one after another, people were struck by the dual shock of creativity and visual spectacle.

Alumni Reunion: Reliving High School Days in a Surge of Energy

This Energy Day coincided with the annual Alumni Homecoming Day. Alumni who had left the campus returned as promised. After checking in at the lobby of Zhongxing Building, they received a souvenir filled with the warmth of SHSID, then joined the various Energy Day activities, chatting and laughing with their former teachers and classmates, and regaining the joy and vitality of their student days in Zhongxing Building. They also walked into the familiar auditorium to enjoy the Art Festival performance together. The elaborately prepared programs by their juniors and the teachers’ surprise performances drew waves of applause and cheers, instantly transporting everyone back to the youthful days of intensive rehearsals for the art festival. During breaks, many alumni wandered around the familiar campus in groups, pausing to take photos in front of the teaching buildings and reminiscing about the past by the flower bed landscapes. Every brick and tile of the campus seemed to whisper softly: It’s so good to be home.

Though the joyful moments were fleeting, the vitality of Energy Day and the warmth of Alumni Homecoming Day have been deeply etched in the hearts of every participant. May this warmth and strength from the campus accompany all members of the SHSID community as they forge ahead bravely on their respective life journeys!

(Written by Ms. Xu Yuechao, Ms. Shi Hanyue   Pictures by teachers and students   Edited by Ms. Shi Hanyue   Reviewed by Ms. Gu Ying, Ms. Shen Chenli)